Baxter and I took our usual spin around Trinidad Head as I successfully test drove my new hiking boots. I am a big fan of foot care. If your going to age well and maintain lifelong mobility, your feet need to be treated with great care. If you do so, your body will reward you for keeping good shoes on your feet; especially your knees, hips and back.

My favorite trail shoe company, Altra, now makes a light weight hiking boot. The Lone Peak is a feather weight pair weighing in at just 1 pound 3.8 ounces, ankle high, that feels very close to being barefoot. Their FootShape™ toe boxes are what first attracted me to their shoes; when wearing your toes get to spread out naturally and comfortably in the footbed. The soles also have great tread on them. My only complaint is the mediocre arch support but I add inserts that take care of it. (I have very high foot arches.) I sometimes wear my trail shoes off the trail, on days when I’m tired, because they give me confidence that I’ll securely and safely take the proper strides.(Disclosure: I am a member and customer of REI but don’t get any kickbacks for product marketing.)

Throughout my life I have compromised my right ankle by wearing platform shoes, stepping in holes, horse accidents and the like. Two massage therapists suggested I wear a high ankle shoe when recreating. Because I hope to be walking the headlands and trails until I’m quite elderly, I am paying attention to my foot strike and gait and the technical advice. Having these new hikers in the shoe rotation just may be the ticket. It’s also a vanity issue; I’d like to avoid getting what I call saggy ankles. Enjoy my pics! #iluvtowalk #altra #lonepeakhikers #trinidadcalifornia #humboldtcounty #humboldt

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